Chemistry Rotation Guidelines

Laboratory Rotations: The goal of laboratory rotations is to optimize the process of matching first-year graduate students and faculty research groups. Through rotations, new students will gain first-hand knowledge about the research, intellectual approaches, and the environment found within the different research groups. The first-year students are required to carry out three rotations in different groups. The rotation periods are for 3 weeks. For 2017 the rotations are

Rotation 1: September 11 – September 29

Rotation 2: October 2 – October 20

Rotation 3: October 23 – November 10

Rotation 4: November 20 – December 8 (optional)

During these rotations the student will have the following opportunities: 1) discuss the research, laboratory, and potential projects with the faculty member; 2) interact with students in the faculty member’s laboratory; and 3) attend group meetings and/or any associated super-group meetings (schedules permitting). Depending upon the faculty member and student schedule, the student may also engage in research and/or read faculty research papers. The student should contact the faculty member as soon as the rotation is assigned to devise a plan to gain familiarity with the group and research.

During the rotations, students are also free to interact with other research groups, e.g., discuss the research and attend group meetings, etc.

Choosing Research Groups for Rotations: Chemistry and chemistry-affiliated faculty members will present short talks on their research during Orientation. These talks will introduce the student to the research group, but the talks should NOT serve as the sole basis for choosing rotation laboratories. The student should consider the following questions to help make the decision about which group to rotate with and ultimately join:

Is the group right for your personality? Is the group size comfortable for you? Is the group dynamic right for you? Are you comfortable with the people? (Keep in mind that groups change as students come and go; you will interact longest with students who are closest to you in terms of years in the program.)

Does the faculty member communicate well with you? Do you like the faculty member’s management style? Will you work successfully with this faculty member as your research advisor?

Is the group right for you scientifically? Does the research interest you? Are you excited about the group’s approach to science? Are there several projects you would be eager to work on? Are there instruments or techniques that interest you? Is the faculty member accepting students on the project(s) you are interested in?

Assignment of Rotations: Prior to each rotation, students will provide a ranked list of the top three faculty preferences (Rotation Form). A committee will make the rotation assignments and will try to accommodate student preferences in making assignments. Students who do not get their first choice in rotation #1 will be given preference when selections are made in rotation #2. Students will not be able to rotate with a research group more than once. Rotations are assigned sequentially, so that if the student’s research interests change, the student can change lab preferences accordingly. The due dates for rotation preferences for 2017 are

Rotation #1 choices due on Wednesday, September 6 at 9 a.m.

Rotation #2 choices due on Wednesday, September 27 at 9 a.m.

Rotation #3 choices due on Wednesday, October 18 at 9 a.m.

Rotation #4 (optional) choices due on Wednesday, November 17 at 9 a.m.

If a student has not chosen a laboratory after the three rotations, there is an option to conduct a fourth rotation.

There is no obligation that students join a laboratory in which they conducted a rotation – the student can join any laboratory upon mutual agreement with the relevant faculty member.

Additional Faculty Meetings: Students are required to meet with at least five faculty members whose research interests them (print out the Faculty Interview List). These meeting are in addition to the rotations.

Ranking the Research Groups: Upon completion of laboratory rotations, students submit their top 3 choices for research groups (option to pick 5) in a ranked order via the Research Group Selection Form. This must be submitted by a designated date in November.

Matching of Student and Research Group:

Initial Step: By the designated date (Monday, November 13, 2017 at 9 am), first-year students submit a ranked list of 3-5 faculty research advisor selections to the graduate student coordinator (GSC).

Round 1:

Faculty research advisors (also referred to as principal investigator, PI), are informed of interested students (with rankings unspecified) by the GSC.

PIs rate interested students (within 24 hours) as potentially acceptable (e.g., dependent on space or funding) or not acceptable. PIs can (should) rate more students as potentially acceptable than there are available positions.

PIs indicate maximum number of openings in their group and any contingencies that may affect that number.

Preliminary match is made between student’s top choice and PI, if PI has ranked student potentially acceptable; facilitated by the Graduate Curriculum Committee (GCC); PI must ratify.

PI commits—DONE (SUCCESSFUL MATCH)

Unmatched students go to Round 2.

Round 2:

PIs indicate a firm YES or NO for each remaining potentially acceptable student.

Students are informed of matches within 1 week of submission of ranked PI choices.

The path chair or the Graduate Curriculum Committee, all of whom will have knowledge of groups seeking students, will advise unmatched students remaining after Round 2. It is anticipated that this will be a small number of students.

The major role of the graduate student coordinator and the Graduate Curriculum Committee in this process is to communicate student and faculty preferences efficiently and to coordinate these preferences to result in optimal matches. Student preferences have priority. Matches are initiated by students and finalized by faculty.